The policy's language changed this year to make it more difficult for those observing religious holidays to be excused from class. One aspect SGA would like to modify is the "work restricted" language included in the policy. Work restricted means a professor or administrator would be able to deem a holiday worthy of an excused absence or not.

"It says on the policy it has to be a work restricted holiday and the issue with work restricted is that it gives the authority to faculty and administrators to determine whether or not a holiday is legitimate holiday that a student would have to miss class for," Student Senator Derek Silver said. "They can try to force a student to go to class if it's not work restricted. We don't believe it is up to a staff member to determine whether a holiday constitutes an excused absence or not."

Silver, who is sponsoring Resolution 27, along with other SGA members feel other aspects of the Faculty Senate's current Religious Observance Policy are restrictive and unnecessary.

"The old religious policy used to state that you needed to notify your professor with the religious holiday you were celebrating, you were excused," Silver said. There was no time frame, just had to be before the class," Silver said. "Now within the first two weeks of the semester, they require you to give your professor your religious holiday calendar."

Silver, also the Programming Allocations Committee (PAC) Chair has a few issues with the holiday calendar policy. He believes it adds an unneeded burden on the student. The junior senator also believes it leaves students without an opportunity to change their opinion on religion as their time at college progresses.

"College is a growing experience," Silver said."The way I look at it and the way a lot of people look at it is that college is about self-discovery. What happens if two weeks before a holiday I say 'Hey, I want to observe this holiday. I think it would be pretty cool.' You don't have that opportunity."

The calendar policy also forces students to define their religious identity during the first two weeks of the semester. Silver believes most students will not feel comfortable making that distinction all of their professors.

While Silver understands fears faculty may have of students taking advantage of the original policy, he estimates very few students actually would jump through the hoops to make it happen.

"This policy, it is so difficult to game the system. It took me at least ten minutes to find this policy on the website and I knew what I was looking for."

In addition, Silver asserts that if a faculty member is suspicious of a student taking advantage, there is an academic honor board that takes care of issues involving this policy and many others.

"There is a process in place that will go after people who abuse policy," Silver said. "That is what should be utilized, not a restrictive policy like this."

The resolution was voted on Wednesday, April 22 at 7:30 in the Senate Chambers.